Rare-earth-free magnetically hard ferrous materials

Abstract

Permanent magnets, especially rare-earth based magnets, are widely used in energy-critical technologies in many modern applications, involving energy conversion and information technologies. However, the environmental impact and strategic supplies of rare-earth elements hamper the long-term development of permanent magnets. Hence, there is a surge of interest to expand the search for rare-earth-free magnets with a large energy product (BH)_max. Among these rare-earth-free magnets, iron-based permanent magnets emerge as some of the most promising candidates due to their abundance and magnetic performance. In this review, we present a summary of iron-based permanent magnets from materials synthesis to their magnetic properties.